How do I shop for a CPAP Machine?

[natman]

I have had a sleep study, but have never actually used a CPAP Machine. I like the Intellipap standard with humidifier or the Remstar Plus with a humidifier. I plan to use an Opus 360 mask. Both machines are available within $20. of each other, so price isn't a factor.
Any opinions or advice will be welcome.
Thanks.

[GumbyCT]

I have had a sleep study, but have never actually used a CPAP Machine. I like the Intellipap standard with humidifier or the Remstar Plus with a humidifier. I plan to use an Opus 360 mask. Both machines are available within $20. of each other, so price isn't a factor.
Any opinions or advice will be welcome.
Thanks.

Well yea, you need to spend some time here reading & learning then you won't buy a cpap with Plus in the name.
You do need to have a prescription to buy online.

Learn to search this forum, it has a wealth of info to help. Beware, learning is not a ten minute task.

[Wulfman...]

I have had a sleep study, but have never actually used a CPAP Machine. I like the Intellipap standard with humidifier or the Remstar Plus with a humidifier. I plan to use an Opus 360 mask. Both machines are available within $20. of each other, so price isn't a factor.
Any opinions or advice will be welcome.
Thanks.

If price isn't a factor, then you need to be looking at the data-capable machines. The two you mentioned are not. And the ones that are fully data-capable are not that much more expensive.
At some point, you're going to want to know how your therapy is working. The two you mentioned won't tell you.

Buying a non-data-capable CPAP machine would be like buying a car with no speedometer or gauges. After about so many speeding tickets or after your engine seized up because it ran out of oil or overheated........that extra few bucks for the speedometer and gauges would look pretty cheap.


Den

[Janknitz]

Absolutely, data capability is a MUST. Don't even think of getting either of the machines you are considering--you WILL regret it. Both of those brands have very good data capable machines, the next one "up" in the Philips Respironics line is a CPAP Pro, and someone who knows Intellipaps can tell you what the minimum data capable machine in that line is.

Are you certain that you need only a fixed pressure (CPAP) or do your needs vary (usually you are prescribed a range of pressures)--if the latter you will need an auto-pap for certain, and we recommend you consider an auto-pap in any case (not as mandatory as data, but still a good idea). Autopaps are generally top of the line, and therefore top of the price range as well, but as a machine should last you for several years it is a good investment.

The next important question is whether you are paying for the machine out of pocket entirely, or do you have some insurance coverage? If out of pocket, you should be looking at online suppliers like our hosts at CPAP.com. Compare those prices to a brick and mortar store BEFORE you buy from the brick and mortar store--you may end up paying twice or more the price you can buy the same machine online for if you go to a brick and mortar DME.

If you have insurance, be sure to read "What you need to know BEFORE you meet your DME in my signature line. Much of it doesn't apply if you are paying out of pocket, except that you need to understand what you are paying for, particularly if you buy through a DME.

[Emilia]

If you are looking at a DeVilbiss Intellipap, only go for the AutoAdjust as it will provide you the full efficacy data and you can run it in either auto or straight cpap mode. The price difference between the standard and auto is negligible so you should get the auto for its versatility and data capabilities.

The other machine you mentioned, the RemStar PLUS, will not give you any data other than compliance information....which has nothing to do with your therapy!

Do your homework and read up on all the machines on our host's site cpap.com or if you are trying to save money due to buying out of pocket, take a look at secondwindcpap.com for good deals on gently used machines. They also sell new DeVilbiss machines at great prices.

[rested gal]

My list of machines that record "full data" (AHI and leak info) and those that don't -- updated February 2011.
You'll want a machine that can record leak and AHI info. The ones in blue do that; the ones in red do not:
viewtopic.php?p=307168#p307168

[dtsm]

My list of machines that record "full data" (AHI and leak info) and those that don't -- updated February 2011.
You'll want a machine that can record leak and AHI info. The ones in blue do that; the ones in red do not:
viewtopic.php?p=307168#p307168

After you read RG's link, then try both cpap.com and secondwindcpap.com [for their 'new open box' specials].
Also, craigslist will sometimes have good deals but remember deal with seller face-to-face, test out the machine, don't do mail-orders.

[natman]

Can you imagine having to buy a car without driving it, much less seeing or hearing it run? That is what I am going thru. I Am 60 years old and have just been diagnosed with Sleep Apnea. I have insurance, but have a $5,000 deductable (so basically I am paying cash) I did a sleep study and liked the fit of the Opus 360 mask. That was easy. Now I am getting overwelmed by exactly what machine I need. I have a prescription and need a setting of 9. I was going to get a straight CPAP machine, but everyone says go with the Auto Adjust type. That way as my needs change, the machine will somehow compensate. I also know I want a humidifier. The Data part is getting confusing. Some machines offer a lot of data, some offer too little to matter. How do I know how much info I need? How often do most users check their data? Daily, weekly, Monthly? What is AHI? Besides leak info, what type of data is available? It appears that I will be monitoring everything myself, so I need to get up to speed on what I need.

I just received my prescription on May 19 and I would love to research this for a month or 2, but I need to get on some sort of treatment. I tend to spend a lot of time researching a project, but have trouble deciding on something. I live in the Dallas area. I will probabley buy online. Should I consider something cheap/used ($200 or less isn't cheap) to get started or make a $500 investment on a machine that may not be right for me?

Any advice or direction would be welcome.

[GumbyCT]

The advise given above is excellent. Don't buy the machines you listed but do buy a step above those models. NO such thing as too much data, even if you aren't interested your doc or someone else (us?) can use it to help YOU. Continue to read and research things on this forum. This is THE best forum on the internet.

Good Luck.

[Hawthorne]

The "Auto" in any machine is a better buy because it can be run in auto mode with a range of pressures or in straight cpap mode with a fixed pressure. It's 2 machines in one.

[mayondair]

IMHO, I would get one of the 3 most popular autopaps, PR SYS 1 auto with AFLEX, Resmed S9 Autoset, or the Devillbiss intellipap auto with smart flex. I would check online prices new from CPAP.com or used/open box from second wind.com or from the CPAP.com auction site. Any of these machines will provide the data you absolutely need, we can help with soft wear and interpreting it. At first you are likely to look at your data daily or every few days, when things get settled in and tweaked not so often. Always good to have the autopap option, even if you usually use the machine in straight CPAP. It could save you some big $$$ by avoiding a trip to the sleep lab, and save you from ineffective therapy if it turns out you do better on an auto. You will be using the machine you choose for many years so it makes sense to get the best one you can. Any one of the 3. I mentioned will serve you well. Kathy

[Emilia]

@natman.... calm down..... I was diagnosed at 59 and have been at this since last Aug. 29. I just turned 60.... you can do this and it sounds like you are doing well in educating yourself first. That is a great way to start as many here can attest to.

Your pressure is set at 9; mine was titrated at 8. I chose to buy out of pocket so cost was a factor although not the deciding one. When I first came to this board, the ResMed S9 was THE machine everyone was promoting, and I certainly gave it a good look. I also looked at what our host site had to say about machines, and I was intrigued by the DeVilbiss Intellipap since it had won a previous product challenge conducted by cpap.com. I also saw that DeVilbiss had a company marketing person on this forum who turned out to be a great resource for me. Between research, chatting, looking at features, and price, I made the decision on the IP...but it happened to occur just as they were rolling out their new model with Smartflex and that was the icing on the cake.

As for data.... if you don't have very complex OSA with lots of centrals, leg issues, and super high pressure needs, I can't imagine you'd need more that what the Intellipap offers in their data. If you don't want to use the software, the beauty of the Intellipap is that you can capture the Smart Code off the LCD screen and plug those into a web based tool to get your data #'s. It isn't as comprehensive as the software data, but it will give you the important stuff.... leak rate, AHI, pressure averages, etc. Some other things to consider: it has a 3 yr. warranty, made in USA, excellent customer service, company solicits enduser input on how to improve product.

Others will sing the praises of their brand machines.... as I am the IP. I've only used this machine so it is the only one I know. You have to make your own decision based on knowledge and research.

Best of luck!

[Slartybartfast]

Allow me to say that you sound pretty frantic. Yes,there's a lot to learn and it can be overwhelming at first. How about looking into renting a machine for a month or so, or whatever the minimum time is. That way you can have therapy right away while you get up to speed on the technology. The most troublesome thing about CPAP therapy is getting used to the mask. If you're happy with the Opus 360 (I have one, and like it), then you've won your first and most critical battle.

A CPAP machine is most definitely not something to get cheap on. Try to save a few dollars by getting a non-automatic, or CPAP, machine and you WILL regret it later. The cost difference between, for instance the Resmed S9 Elite (a CPAP) and the S9 Autoset (an APAP) is about $50 on a $1000 machine.

If you want to save some money, the Intellipap is about half the cost of either the PR System one or Resmed automatic machines. I have both the Intellipap and the Resmed S9 Autoset, and with my eyes closed, I can't tell the difference between the two. Only difference is the GREAT software available with the S9 Autoset, and the less great software that's available with the Intellipap. But for an additional $500, is it worth it to you? Maybe not.

Again, consider renting until you are ready to plunk down your hard earned cash.

[archangle]

Unless you can't afford it or there's some other special reason, get a Philips Respironics REMstar System One Auto or a ResMed S9 Autoset. Get the heated humidifier option.

They are auto CPAP machines and are fully data capable. You can get the software to analyze the data.

If you don't need Auto, humidity, or data analysis, you can simply not use them. If you decide you want it later, you have the capability.

[chunkyfrog]

I am nearly 64, and have been 'hosing' for slightly over a year now.
I highly recommend an automatic machine with full data.
Your health is no place to skimp.
People have 'gotten by' on much lower priced machines; but for many of us, just getting by is not enough.